154 WILD-FOWL 



THE BLUE-GOOSE. 



One of the handsomest of the geese, the blue-goose, 

 is but little known. It is more often seen migrating 

 in the Mississippi valley. Its head and neck are white ; 

 its breast, back, and wings are grayish-brown, and the 

 under parts are white. I have never shot this goose, 

 and in fact have never seen one near enough to recog- 

 nize it. It was supposed to be the young of the 

 snow-goose, but the ornithologists now say that it is a 

 separate species. The sportsman who may be fortu- 

 nate enough to bag one can readily identify it from 

 the description. It does not frequent the Pacific Coast. 



THE WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. 



The white-fronted goose is abundant on the Pacific 

 Coast, and is also found in the Mississippi valley, and 

 is said to be common in Texas. Elliot says the white- 

 fronted geese are often seen associating with other 

 geese, especially the snow-geese. I have seen thou- 

 sands of snow-geese, but do not remember to have 

 ever seen them associating with other geese. Other 

 geese are often seen on the same lake or pond, but 

 usually, I believe, by themselves. 



The geese are all shot in the same manner, over 

 decoys or from ambush, as they fly from one feeding 

 ground to another, or from the lakes to the fields. 

 They will, when not too much shot, follow the same 

 line of flight, and the observant sportsman will have no 

 difficulty in getting under them; but he must be per- 

 fectly concealed and remain motionless until they are 



